Page 60 of Then There Was You

“I just needed some air.”

“Can we get a cab back to the hotel? My feet are killing me,” Paisley says, coming up behind Nash and leaning against him.

He wraps his arm around her and presses a kiss on her head. “Sure, baby.”

They walk together toward the line of people waiting outside the club for a cab, leaving Taylor to walk with me. It’s a little awkward after earlier, and I hate that there’s an atmosphere between us.

“Are we okay? After earlier, I mean,” I ask, needing to break the silence.

She sighs. “We’re good, Seb.” I’m not sure I believe her, but what choice do I have? We don’t have to wait long until we’re at the front of the line. The drive to the hotel only takes a few minutes. I sit in the front with the driver while Taylor, Paisley, and Nash sit in the back. I pay the driver and climb out, opening the rear door. Paisley and Nash get out first, followed by Taylor. The girls must have removed their shoes in the back of the cab, both of them holding their heeled pumps in their hands.

“Stop!” Nash shouts, scooping Paisley up bridal-style into his arms. “There’s broken glass on the floor.”

I close the cab door and reach for Taylor, picking her up and holding her against my chest.

“What are you doing?” she gasps, her voice breathless.

“I don’t want you to cut your feet.”

“I could just put my shoes on.”

“I thought your feet hurt?”

“They do.”

“Then I’ve got you.”

She drops her head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”

I carry her silently through the hotel lobby toward the elevator, Nash and Paisley ahead of us. The elevator doors open as soon as Paisley presses the button, and Nash and I walk into the car, the girls still in our arms.

“I’d have taken my shoes off earlier if I’d known you’d carry me,” Paisley jokes, and Nash chuckles.

“Like I need an excuse to have you in my arms.”

Paisley grins at him and presses her lips to his.

“You can probably put me down now,” Taylor says quietly, her head still on my shoulder.

“I’ll take you to your room.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

When the elevator doors open, I follow Nash along the hallway, coming to Taylor’s room first. I stop outside her door, gently putting her down. My room is next door, and Nash and Paisley’s room is beyond that.

“Night, guys,” Paisley shouts as Nash opens the door with one hand and they disappear inside before either of us can answer.

Taylor laughs. “I guess they were eager to get inside.”

“Yeah, I guess they were.”

I watch as she digs in her purse for the keycard. When she’s unlocked the door, she turns and gives me a small smile.

“Night, Seb.”

“Night, Taylor.” I lean down and kiss her cheek.

I wait until she’s inside and I’ve heard the click of the lock before I walk the short distance to my room and let myself in. I groan and flop facedown onto the king-size bed. My resolve to keep things firmly in the friend zone is diminishing by the second, especially after having her in my arms earlier. She was right when she said the sex had been off the charts. It had felt like that for me too. Could we really be together but just in a physical relationship? If we both know the score, then there’s no reason for either of us to get hurt, right?

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